Blast furnace stockline wearing plates



' Aug. 24, 1965 w. E. sLAGLEY ETAL. 3922,4@7

BLAST FURNACE STOCKLINE WEARING PLATES 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 24, 1962 um, Md@

l@ s 8 y Allg- 24, 1965 w. E. SLAGLEY ETAL 3,202,4@7

BLAST FURNACE STOCKLNE WEARING PLATES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 24, 1962 /C 0 ;////M //5/// ifa, A ///////////2///// Aug. 24, 1965 w. E. sLAGLl-:Y ETAL BLAST FURNACE STOCKLINE WEARING PLATES Filed May 24, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 lously introduced material (the furnace burden).

United States Patent O 3,202,4@7 BLAST rUnNAcn srocnmrm wai-mini@ Pilares William E. Slagley, East Chicago, and Charles F. Kirkland, Hammond, lud., assign'ors to Inland Steel Company, Chicago, lill., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 24, 1962, Ser. No. @7,393 2l Claims. (Cl. 26o- 25) The present invention relates generally to a blast furnace interior construction, and more particularly to a blast furnace wear element several of which are disposed, in a circumferential arrangement, around the interior of a blast furnace at the upper material-receiving end thereof to protect the blast furnace interior against the erosive elfect resulting from the impact of descending charging material being introduced into the furnace.

A blast furnace conventionally includes an exterior metallic shell, an interior refractory lining adjacent the shell, and beli-type material-discharging means located at the top of the furnace. Material discharged into the furnace initially strikes the interior periphery of the furnace and is deflected inwardly toward a pile of previ- Newly introduced material oftentimes rebounds off this pile and strikes the interior of the furnace a second time, at a lower location. It the furnace interior is not protected against the erosive etiect of both the initial and rebound impacts, the refractory lining inside the furnace will be worn away in a relatively short time, and the exterior shell will be exposed to the high temperatures of the furnace interior. Rapid erosion of the refractory lining requires frequent replacement, each replacement necessitating an expensive shut-down of the furnace. Failure to replace worn refractory material in time will result in overheating of the exposed shell, thus weakening the shell which supports associated equipment and apparatus weighing about 100 tons the weight of which may cause collapse or buckling of the weakened overheated shell,

To prevent erosion of the refractory material, blast furnaces have been lined, in the area of initial and rebound impact, with cast metallic wear elements generally grouped in a multiplicity of vertically stacked and spaced tiers, each comprising a plurality of circumferentially arranged elements.

lthough eliminating the problem of refractory erosion, the wear elements themselves have presented a number of additional problems. For example, because of the intense heat to which wear elements are subjected, warpage of these elements often occurred, causing ledges and crevices to be created between adjacent tiers. Descending charging material works against these ledges eventually tearing the wear elements loose from the refractory material in which they are generally embedded. The saine pulling away has occurred because of the inherent gap between vertically spaced wear elements, said gap forming a crevice for descending charging material to work on. When the wear elements were pulled away they oftentimes carried the refractory material along, thereby exposing the exterior shell to the intense heat of the furnace interior. Furthermore, loss of one wear element would undermine the support of the elements in higher tiers, thus resulting in progressive failure of an entire vertical row of wear elements.

The wear element of the present invention eliminates CTI 'idgdd? Patented Aug, 24, 1965 "ice the aforementioned problems. Arranged in a group disposed circumferentially around the interior of the furnace, a subject wear element constitutes a relatively large, vertical disposed, continuously extending east metallic plate located substantially in the area of initial and rebound impact of material discharged into the furnace. A single plate extends over the entire vertical dimension of the impact area. The plate comprises two sections, an upper wear-resistant section located in the area of initial impact, and a separate, discrete lower heat-resistant section normally contacting the furnace burden and connected to the upper section along a tightly closed seam thereby eliminating any cracks or crevices in the wear element on which descending charging material could exert a loosening effect. The surface of the subject wear element facing the interior of the furnace is smooth, con tinuous, and uninterrupted so that it does not interfere with the downward low of the furnace burden.

Because the lower plate section is in tightly abutting relation with the upper plate section, the relatively intense heat, to which the burden-contacting lower section is subjected, is readily conducted from the lower to the upper section which is cooled by relatively cool gases at the furnace top. Rapidly conducting the heat away from the lower section prevents warping thereof.

Additional features which prevent warping of the wear elements are horizontally disposed top and bottom flanges extending from the vertical plate toward the furnace shell for the entire width of the plate, vertically disposed side flanges extending from the plate toward the furnace shell for the entire length of the plate, and horizontally disposed webs between the plate and the side flanges. In addition, the lowerrnost portion of the plate terminates at the bottom flange. Thus the entire periphery of the plate terminates at reinforcing flanges which minimize warpage of the plate.

The top of the wear element is connected to the metallic shell of the furnace in a manner which maintains the entire wear element in radially or inwardly spaced relation to the shell and mounts the wear element for vertical movement relative to the shell. The bottom of the wear element rests atop a shoulder of .the furnaces refractory lining. By providing a mounting arrangement of the type just described, expansion in a vertical direction, caused by the heat to which the element is subjected, can be accommodated. In addition, each of the wear elements is slidably connected to a circumferentially adjacent wear element with a slight gap left between adjoining wear elements to accommodate expansion in a circumferential direction.

When the wear velements are initially assembled in the blast furnace, a wooden plug is inserted into and closes the gaps between adjoining wear elements. The wooden plugs and the wear elements constitute a form into which is poured a castable refractory material which, upon solidifying is associated with the wear elements and will move vertically therewith.

Located adjacent the furnace shell between the shell and the wear element is a permanent lining of a refractory material. Located between the refractory material adjacent the furnace shell and the cast refractory material is a refractory shear face material which protects both the cast and the shell-lining refractory nia-- terials from crumbling during vertical movement of the former material and associated wear elements. When g'rammatic drawings wherein:

the `furnace' is'initially lit up, the wooden plugs in the gaps between adjacent wear elements are burned out, thus opening up thenormal clearance between adjacent wear elements.

Other advantages resultinglfrom'the use of wear elements constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention are many. Installation is faster, simpler and more economical because, in a typical construction, only 26 of the subject wear elements are required to produce a circumferential arrangement protecting the furnace around its entire periphery. In comparison, severalV hundredwear elements have been required in arrangements utilizing vertically stacked tiers or other arrangements inV accordance with the prior art.

Because the` number of ca st Wear elements is reduced substantially, the total weight for all the elements is also reduced substantially and the simplified design resulting from the larger and fewer number of elements results in a substantial savings in they casting price per pound.

Because each wear element is attached or hung to thefurnace shell, it cannot fall even ifrtheV lining, upon which' thebottom of each element rests, should collapse. There is a permanent refractory lining against the furnace shell which prevent hot spots and possible shell yfailure even Yif ,the wear element should erode through or fall off.`

`In addition, the wear elements are backed up with a castable refractory which providesl additional protection for the shell should an element wear'through. t

All the plates are connected together for unitized construction. Accordingly, the unit is self-reinforcing and does not require bracing. Y n

Inasmuchas the 'refractory material behind theY wear elements is a cast refractory, and is poured intor place after the wear elements arerassembled and positioned, the time'consuming old fashioned method of cutting and fitting bricks to support the lwear element and ltoifill in behind the wear elements Yis eliminated.

Other features and advantages arelinherent in the concharging material.

factory lining ist an additional source of erosion.

. 4 so of auxiliary equipment supported atop the furnace shell would cause .the weakened shell to collapse or buckle. This problem of erosion is minimized by providing a plurality of relatively large cast metallic wear elements Z0 arranged kcircumferentially around the interior of the blast furnace in a position to absorb the impact and avoid the erosive effect ofthe descending Y Descending charging material Vstriking wear elements 20 is deflected downwardlyV and back toward. the center cf the furnace where the charging material will accumulate atop a pile of material (not shown) previously charged into the furnace. Oftentimes the deflected charging material will rebound off the pile of material in the,

center of the furnace and head back toward the furnace shell. Rebounding charging material striking the 'treo protect the lining against rebound impact wear element 20 extends downwardly to the lowest limit of lrebound impact under normal furnace operations. Thus, in es-` sence, wear element 20 constitutes a verticallyV disposed,

area of initialandV normal rebound impact .of material discharged Vfrom the bell-type discharging means.

Each wear element 20 is connected at the top thereof tor'a bracket Zlattached to shell V16 and in a Ymanner which maintains wear element 29 Vin radially or inwardly spaced relation to the shell and mounts .the wear element struction claimed or disclosed or will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description in conjunctionV with the accompanying dia- FIGURE 1 is an interior view of a blast furnace, in

vertical section, illustrating a plurality ofrcircurnferential-l lylarrangedfwear elements constructed and arranged in movement of wear elements 20 and cast refractory ma- Y terial 24. Y The abilityof element 20 Vand the associated refractory material 24 to move vertically 'accommodatesV accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;y Y FIGURE 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional View of the embodiment of FIGURE 1;

' FIGURE 3 is a sectionalview taken along line 3 3 in'FIGUREa. Y Y Y FIGURE 4is a sectional View takenV along line 4 4 in FIGURE 2; e

in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE'G is van enlarged perspectiveY view of anV em# brodiment of a wear element constructed in accordanceV with the present invention.

Referringinitially to FIGURES land 2 thereis shown a portion of a blast furnace including a metallic eX- terior shell 10, an interior Vrefractory stack lining indi-y cated generally at 11, and bell-type material discharging means` located at the `top of the furnace .and includingV a hopper 16 and avertically movable lower bell member 12 forsuppofrtin'g a'batch of charging material 14.. When b'ell 12 is lowered to the position indicated by 'dash-dot FIGURE Sis a sectional view taken along line 5 5 i for vertical movement relativevto shell 10. The bottom' Vmaterial 24 which is vertically. movable together with elements 20. Located between cast refractory material 24 and permanent refractory material 23 isV refractory shear face material 2S which prevents refractory materials v23 and 24 vfrom crumbling during the vertical verticalr expansion due to heat.

BecauseV elements 29 are connected or hung to furnace shell 10, they will not fall out orcollap'se even with lossl of the underlying supporting refractory lining V1l.. YIf the wear` elements 20 should be eroded all the way through, the cast refractory material 24 will ,continue to" provide `protection for furnace shell Y10." Furthermore,

even 'if the cast 'refractory material'should wear through,

the permanent refractoryV material'23 lining the shell 10 will protect the latter from hot spots until the'furnace can be shut-down and wear element 20 and cast refractory material 24 replaced.

As previously indicated, eachjwear'V element constitutes a vertically disposed continuously extending plate, indicat 1 ed at 30. Each plate130 includes an upper wear resistant i If the descending charging material were to strike thel Y refractory Vmaterial normally lining the interior ofthe furnace,the erosiv'e effect resulting Vtherefrom would Ysoonv wear the refractory material away and expose furnace' shell 1,0 to the` intense heat withinthe furnace.y This, in turn, wouldcause hot spots on the furnace shell, thus weakeningV the shell; and the weight ofthe 1GO tons or section 31 and a separate,'discrete lower heat resistant section V.32 connected together along a closed seamV33. More specifically, referring to FIGURE 6, lower section 32 includes an upper flange 35' extending from plate 36 toward furnace shell 10. .t Upper section 31 includes ay Vlower flange 34 also extending' from plate 30 toward the furnace shell. The two iianges, 34, 35 are held together in tightly abutting relation by bolts 36 to Vdefine immedi-V ate flange means for the wear element Ztl. Accordingly,

asY seen Vin/FIGUREY l,V eachv wear element 20rpresen`tsa continuous uninterruptedsmooth'surface 37 disposed `toward the Vinterior of the furnace. Because of the lack of crevices, ledges or gaps, there isno Vstarting point for Vthe descending lcharging material to `work on and loosen the plates. Also,the smooth uninterrupted surface provides less resistanceV tothe Vdownward ing material withinV the furnace. j Y

iiow of the pile of charg-v Y E 3 A typical composition for the upper wear resistant plate section is as follows:

Element: Weight percent C S55-0.65 Mn G50-1.00 Cr 2.00-250 Mo G-0.45 Si OAD-0.80 Fe Balance A typical composition for the lower heat resistant plate section is as follows:

Element: Weight percent Cr 20.0 Ni 2.() C 1.9-1.3 Fe Balance The lower heat resistant plate section 32. generally is in direct Contact with the furnace burden. Hot gases llowing upwardy from the reaction zone at the bottom of the furnace heat the portion of the burden in contact with plate section 32 to a temperature of 110D-146W F. 0n the other hand the upper plate section 3i generally does not contact the pile of furnace burden and is exposed to a gaseous atmosphere generally having a temperature within the range G-460 F. Because the lower section 32 is tightly connected to the upper section 3l along substantially the entire width of the lower section, heat conductivity from lower section 32 to upper section 3l is good. Accordingly, lower section 32 is maintained relatively cool, within the temperature limits of the alloy of which the plate is composed, by the rapid flow of heat from lower section 32 to upper section 3i and from there to the relatively cool gaseous atmosphere at the top of the furnace.

If plate section 32 were overheated, the peripheral edge portions thereof would tend to warp inwardly toward the interior of the furnace. This is minimized in the wear element of the present invention by the relatively large size thereof and by the composition previously described.

Additional features which prevent warpage of both the lower and upper sections of the elements are the provision of the following structural components. More specifically, referring to FIGURE 6, wear element Ztl is provided with a horizontal bottom flange 4d which normally rests atop shoulder 22, and a horizontal upper flange 45, both flanges extending the entire width of plate 3i). Lower plate section 32 includes vertically disposed side anges 41, 42; and upper plate section Si includes vertically disposed side ilanges 43, 44, all of said side flanges extending the entire length of their respective plate section. Side flanges 41, i2 and 43, 44tand top and bottom ilanges d5, 46 extend along the edges of the plate Si) from the plate 3i) toward the furnace shell fil. Upper plate section 31 is also provided with horizontally disposed webs it? extending between side flanges 43, 44 and plate 3h. Also provided are vertically extending web portions 47 between top flange and the side flanges 43, 44. All of the above-described webs and flanges together with tightly abutting flanges 34, 35 reinforce wear elements 2b and minimize warping.

Describing in greater detail the connection between elements 24) and furnace shell E9, top flange ES of wear element 2t) includes an opening Sti which slidably receives a pin 51 extending between upper and lower horizontally disposed portions 52, 53 of bracket 2l (FG. 2). Bracket 21 also includes a vertically disposed brace portion 54 extending between horizontally disposed portions 52, 53, and a usset element 55 which helps support the bracket 21 on shell 1t).

As shown in FlGURE 2, the lowermost portion of wear element Ztl terminates at bottom flange et). This is advantageous in that it minimizes warping of the lower lli portion, which would otherwise occur if the lowerrnost portion extended downwardly below flange dit.

Referring to FIGURES 3 and 6 bottom flange 4l) includes three portions, a first portion 6th integral with plate 3G and having a width substantially the same as that of plate 3u, an intermediate portion 61 integral with portion di) and substantially narrower than portion all, and a terminal portion d2, rectangular shaped, and substantially wider than intermediate portion 61. Referring to FIGURE 3, terminal portion 62 is enclosed within a pair of clips 63 which hold the terminal portion in place and prevent the lower part of wear element 2? from swinging or moving in a direciton toward the interior of the furnace.

Bottom ange terminal portion 62 abuts against an angle member 7@ (PEG. 2) resting atop compressible refractory material 7l supported by refractory lining 1l. Additional compressible refractory material 72 is provided below bracket 21 and top flange d5 of the wear element. This compressible material '72 is immovably mounted relative to the furnace shell and accommodates the upward vertical expansion of cast refractory material 24. Also illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2, are a frustoconical upper furnace portion 73 and a refractory lining 74.

Referring to FIGURES 1, 4 and 5, each Wear element Ztl is slidably connected to an adjacent wear element 25B in a circumferential arrangement by means now to be described. The side flanges di, i2 and d3, d@ of each wear element include a plurality of vertically spaced openings SS. When the wear elements are mounted in the arrangement shown in FIGURE 1, openings 55 in a wear element are substantially aligned with similar openings in adjacent wear elements. The aligned openings slidably receive pins or bolts 56. ln the arrangement illustrated in FIGURE l, there is a gap 57 between flanges d3, da of adjacent wear elements 2li. Gap 57, and the slidable reception of bolts 56 in the opening Se', connect the wear elements together in a manner which mounts them for movement in a circumferential direction, so as to accommodate circumferential expansion due to heat.

When the wear elements are initially assembled in the blast furnace and arranged circumferentially as illustrated in the figures, the gaps 5'? are plugged up with Wooden members S8 (FlG. 4). Wooden members 53 together with wear elements 2% provide a form into which refractory material d may be cast. When the furnace is lit up, the wooden members SS are burned out, thus leaving a clearance between the Wear elements 26 so as to accommodate circumferential expansion.

Thus the wear elements 2li, when subjected to the intense heat present inside the furnace, expand circumferentially as well as vertically without damage to the interior of the furnace.

Because the refractory material 24- between wear elements It@ and furnace shell til can be cast into place, the tedious and complicated task of cutting and tting bricks for placement around wear elements Ztl is eliminated. Thus initial construction and subsequent replacement of the Wear elements and the associated refractory material is substantially faster and less costly than in constructions utilizing wear elements of the prior art. Also facilitating installation and saving of time and money, is the reduction in the number of parts for the furnace wear lining. In a typical installation, only 26 wear elements Ztl are .required to line the interior of a furnace. This compares with over 500 individual elements required to be placed in the interior of a furnace when the lining was constructed in accordance with prior art teachings. Futhermore, the simplified design of the wear elements and the relatively large size thereof, results in a savings in the cost of casting the lining for the furnace. Also reduced is the total weight for lining thereby resulting in; a savings in mate- I rial and in the cost thereof. Y

The above-described embodiments being exemplary only,- it will be understood that the present invention com-V a plurality Vof circumferentially arranged, Yvertically vdisposed wear relements around the interior of the furnace;

each'wear element constitutingV a vertically disposed Y plate Vextending continuously along the vertical dimension of the area of initial and normal rebound impact of material discharged from said discharging means; Y f meanson said furnace shell and means on said wear elements cooperating to maintain the wear elements in inwardly spaced relation to the furnace shell and to mount said wear elements for Vvertical movement relative to the furnace shell; Y Y l a first relatively stationary refractory material, ad-

' jacent the furnace shellybetween said shell and said wear elements; y Y a cast second refractory material, adjacent said wear elements, between the latter and Vsaid shell, and vertically movable with said wear elements;

and a layer of refractory shear face material between said first Vandsecond refractory materials.V

5 2. In a blast furnace as recited in claim A1 and 'corn-V Y prising;

S tate heat transferV from the lower to the upper section. 7. In a blast furnace as recited in claim 1 wherein each Vwear element comprises:

a top flange extending from the uppermost part 'ofYV said plateV toward said furnace shell;

a bottom flange extending from said plate toward the furnace shell; -f f the lowermost portionof said plate terminatingV at said bottom flange; A f' Y said plate having a relatively smooth Vuninterrupted surface facing the furnace interior.

8.` InV a blastfurnace as recited in claim 7 wherein each Y wear element' comprises:

vthe lowermost part of each plate terminating at said shoulder means;

, `3. In a blast furnace as recited in claim 2 wherein said means at the bottom of saidV plate comprises:

a first portion integral with the plate andsubstantially" the same width as Vthe latter; Y an intermediate portion integral with said nst portion and substantially narrower than the first portion; and a terminal portion integral with said intermediate portion v-and wider than the intermediate portion; and means, engaging said terminal portion; for holding the plate against movement toward the interior of the furnace. 4. In a blast furnace as recited in claim 1 wherein said cooperating means comprises: 1 Y

a-.plurality Yof brackets each'connected to said shell and each extending inwardly therefrom adjacent the top of a respective plate; a pin extending vertically from said bracket;

V'a flange extending from each plate, at the top thereof, i

and toward said shell; Y and an opening in said flange 'for slidably receiving said pin.

e i' S. In a blast furnace as recited in claim'l whereinu eachA plate comprises:V Y 'Y 'an upper wear-resistant section in thearea of initial impact of said discharged material; a lower heat-resistant section separate andY discrete from said upper section;

and Ymeans connecting said lower section to saidupper `charged material between said sections and to facili-V vit) a vertical angek along each side of said plate and extending from the platertoward the furnace shell; horizontally disposed web means between the plate and Y each vertical ange; v Y Y and intermediate flangeY means, substantially hori Vzontally disposed, between said top and bottom furnace shell. Y Y Y 9. In'a blast furnace Vas recited in claim 1 wherein:

each Wear element is circumferentially spacedV from an adjacent wear element 'to provide a relatively small clearance between adjacent wear elements;

each Vof said two adjacent wear elements having a vertically disposed flange extending from a respectiveV plate toward the furnace shell along a respective opposite side of said clearance; p

aligned openings in said anges; f Y

and bolt meansV slidably received in the V.aligned open- Y ings to connect said adjacent'wear element and Vmeans on'` said furnace shell and means at the top Vof Y eachrplate cooperating to maintain'the'plate in in- Y 'wardly spaced relation to said lfurnace shell and to mount the plate for vertical movement relative to the shell; Y 'c Y shoulder means on said furnace lining;

' j and means at the bottom4 of leach plate for resting on Ysaid shoulder means; Y the lowerrnost portion of each plate terminating at said shoulder means; Y Y Y Y a first relatively stationary refractory material Vadjacent the furnace shell, between said shell and said wear Y elements; Y Va cast second refractory elements; between the latter and said shell, and verti- Y cally movable with said Vwear elements; Y and a layer of refractory )shear face material between said first and second refractory materials; Y,

earch Vplate Vhaving a relatively smooth .uninterrupted Vsurface facing the furnace interior. 11. VIn a blast furnace" as recited in claim 10 and comprising: Y e Y meansY 4connecting Vadjacent wear'helements together Yand'rnounting said Y*wear elements to accommodate circiimferential expansion' and contraction Yof adjacent wear elements.

' 12.,A blast furnace Ywear element for use', with a plurality'of, circumferentiallyarranged other wear elements Yidentical to said first recited Wearelement, to line Va portion of the -interioriofia blast'Y furnace having a shell,

flanges, and extending from the plate toward the material, adjacent the wear a lining and material discharging means at the top thereof, said wear element comprising:

a plate extending vertically and continuously for a distance substantially equal to the vertical dimension of the area of initial and normal rebound impact for material discharged from said discharging means;

said plate having a relatively smooth, uninterrupted front surface, along its entire length, for disposition toward the interior of said furnace;

said plate having a rear surface opposite said front surface;

said plate having an upper wear-resistant section, and a lower heat-resistant section separate and discrete from the upper section and connected to said upper section along a single closed seam;

means at the top of said plate for hanging said plate in inwardly spaced vertically movable relation to the shell;

and a flange at the bottom of said plate, extending rearwardly from said plate, for resting on said fur nace lining;

the lowermost part of said plate terminating at said bottom flange.

13. A wear element as recited in claim l2 wherein said means at the top of said plate comprises:

a top flange extending rearwardly from said plate in the same direction as said bottom liange;

and a pin-receiving opening in said top ange.

14. A wear element as recited in claim 12 and comprising:

a ange at the bottom of said upper section;

a dange at the top of said lower section;

and means for holding said flange together in relatively tightly abutting relation, to prevent entry of discharged material between said sections and to facilitate heat transfer from the lower to the upper section. 15. A wear element as recited in claim 12 and comprising:

a top flange extending from said plate in the same direction as said bottom ange; a vertical ange along each side of said plate and extending rearwardly from the plate; web means between the plate and a respective vertical liange; and intermediate flange means substantially horizontally disposed, between said top and bottom llanges, and extending rearwardly from the plate. 16. A wear element as recited in claim 12 wherein said bottom flange comprises:

a first portion integral with the plate and substantially the same width as the latter; an intermediate portion integral with said rst portion and substantially narrower than the irst portion; and a terminal portion integral with said intermediate portion and wider than the intermediate portion. 17. In a blast furnace including a shell, a lining and material-discharging means at the top of the furnace:

a vertically disposed wear element extending continul@ ously along the vertical dimension of the area of initial and normal rebound impact of material discharged from said discharging means; means on said furnace shell and means on said wear element cooperating to maintain the wear element in inwardly spaced relation to the furnace shell and to mount the wear element for Vertical movement relative to the furnace shell; a cast refractory material adjacent said wear element,

between the latter and the furnace shell; means, including means on said wear element engaging said cast refractory material, for moving the cast refractory material vertically in response to said vertical movement of said wear element; and a layer of stationary refractory material between said movable cast refractory material and the furnace shell. la?. In a blast furnace as recited in claim 17 and comprising:

a ange, at the bottom of said wear element, extending from the wear element toward the furnace shell; said liange underlying said movable refractory material. 19. In a blast furnace as recited in claim ll7 wherein the wear element and the cast refractory material are movable along a vertical path, said furnace further comprising:

compressible refractory material immovably mounted relative to the furnace shell and located in said vertical path to accommodate movement along said vertical path. 212D. A wear element as recited in claim 12 wherein: said upper plate section is composed of a relatively wear-resistant material;

and said lower plate section is composed of relatively heat-resistant material diiferent than the material of which said upper plate section is composed. 21. A wear element as recited in claim 12 and comprising:

a vertical flange along each side of said plate and eX- tending rearwardly from the plate; and openings in each flange for receiving circumferential-movernent-accommodating pins.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 915,601 3/09 Hine et al 266-31 1,709,823 4/29 Kennedy 266-31 2,148,856 2/60 Cope 266-43 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,243,229 8/ 60 France.

211,852 1l/60 Austria.

MGRRIS O. WOLK, Primary Examiner.

DELBERT E. GANTZ, Examiner. 

1. IN A BLAST FURNACE INCLUDING A SHELL, A LINING, AND MATERIAL DISCHARGING MEANS AT THE TOP THEREOF; A PLURALITY OF CIRCUMFERENTIALLY ARRANGEDM, VERTICALLY DISPOSED WEAR ELEMENTS AROUND THE INTERIOR OF THE FURNACE; EACH WEAR ELEMENT CONSTITUTING A VERTICALLY DISPOSED PLATE EXTENDING CONTINUOUSLY ALONG THE VERTICAL DIMENSION OF THE AREA OF INITIAL AND NORMAL REBOUND IMPACT OF MATERIAL DISCHARGE FROM SAID DISCHARGING MEANS; MEANS ON SAID FURNACE SHELL AND MEANS ON SAID WEAR ELEMENTS COOPERATING TO MAINTAIN THE WEAR ELEMENTS IN INWARDLY SPACED RELATION TO THE FURNACE SHELL AND TO MOUNT SAID WEAR ELEMENTS FOR VERTICAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO THE FURNACE SHELL; A FIRST RELATIVELY STATIONARY REFRACTORY MATERIAL, ADJACENT THE FURNACE SHELL, BETWEEN SAID SHELL AND SAID WEAR ELEMENTS; A CAST SECOND REFRACTORY MATERIAL, ADJACENT SAID WEAR ELEMENTS, BETWEEN THE LATTER AND SAID SHELL, AND VERTICALLY MOVABLE WITH SAID WEAR ELEMENTS; AND A LAYER OF REFRACTORY SHEAR FACE MATERIAL BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND REFRACTORY MATERIALS. 